NZ nurse in Iraq has bag packed

A former Waikato nurse working at a hospital on the west coast of Saudi Arabia says she has a bag packed and is ready to leave at a moment's notice.

Jan Elder has been in Jeddah, more than 1500km from the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, for more than two years.

New Zealand citizens are being strongly advised to leave Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, Israel and the Palestinian Authority (West Bank and Gaza Strip). Ms Elder said she was getting regular emails from New Zealand officials, who had told her to be ready to go.

Herald Feature: Iraq